Dave Allen: Marin coaches connect when president's brother-in-law talks about character lessons from the court

THE MESSAGE throughout Craig Robinson's new book is about building and revealing character through athletics - specifically the game of basketball he coaches at Oregon State. It's the same game he used to get to know his future brother-in-law, Barack Obama.

Dominican University is fostering the same message for it's blossoming athletic program. When the two came together for a stop on Robinson's book tour Tuesday at the San Rafael campus, athletic director Terry Tumey took the opportunity to throw out the welcome mat. It was no surprise that some of the biggest names in Marin sports jumped at the chance to spend time with Michelle Obama's brother.

"I wasn't going to miss a chance to listen to him speak," said San Marin High boys basketball coach and athletic director Craig Pitti, who came to the event with Dan Lucia, the school's girls basketball coach.

"For all of us young coaches looking to find our way, he is a guy who really found his message and has been able to find success. He has some amazing family stories too, but I really like the sound of what he has to say about character in sports."

"He's just an interesting guy with a great story," Butler said. "It's great to have him here at Dominican. I love that they are bringing people like coach Robinson here to speak. I know he went through a lot growing up on the south side of Chicago playing basketball. At San Rafael, we have kids that have been through a lot. I like listening to what he has to say."

Robinson is criss-crossing the country promoting the book, titled "A Game of Character." He called the tour, "easier than campaigning and harder than traveling with my team."

"This is like a professional road trip," he said.

He called the book a love letter to his parents and says that the lessons he learned about life through basketball were all realized thanks to his father, Fraser Robinson. Though Craig Robinson said he had never been to Marin before, the Bay Area holds a special place in his heart for him.

"I will never forget the standing ovation I got at the Cal game in Berkeley as a result of the inauguration," said Robinson, recalling how the Cal fans stood and cheered when his team took the court two days after he accompanied President Obama and the rest of his family for the ceremony in January of 2009. Of course, the best part for Robinson was the upset victory the Beavers earned that afternoon.

Robinson, who played at Princeton and worked in finance before following his passion to coach basketball in his mid-30s, has big plans for the Oregon State program.

"It's like anything that you have to build from scratch, the first thing is changing the culture," said Robinson, sounding a bit like his brother-in-law talking about the country. "We just keep working and working. Don't worry about the results. If you work hard, the results will come later."

Words like that make Tumey, now entering his second year as Dominican's AD, nod his head in agreement.

"What better platform for someone like Craig than a university like ours?" Tumey said. "As someone representing this university, I want to be involved in bringing people as inspirational as coach Robinson to our campus."

Brad Gilbert, the former world-class tennis pro who coached stars like Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, lives down the street from campus. Gilbert and his wife Kim were happy to pick up Robinson's theme.

"I totally agree with his message," Gilbert said. "It does fit with what's going on here at Dominican. And let's talk about making this athletic department bigger and better. Let's talk about baseball and, yeah, men's tennis. Why not?"

For Caren Horstmeyer, the former women's basketball coach at Cal and Santa Clara University, it was a good chance to connect with talented young coaches full of enthusiasm.

"Oregon State isn't the easiest place to recruit to, but he is finding his way," she said. "Sure, his family connections help, but he has taken that family atmosphere and translated it to the court, which is so important."

Once Robinson is done selling his message, he will get back to work at Oregon State. After a 14-18 record in his second season, he is happy with the progress from the winless team he took over in 2008, but hopes the best is yet to come.

"Who is to say this isn't the perfect place and the perfect job to get it all done?" Robinson said of OSU.

Tumey, standing just a few feet away, was probably thinking the same thing about his program at Dominican. So far, right on track.